Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today a restructuring of the Thunder Basketball Operations department.

The Thunder promoted Troy Weaver to VP/Assistant General Manager, Rob Hennigan to Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel, Paul Rivers to Director of Minor League Operations and Basketball Technology and Brandon Barnett to Director of Minor League Scouting and Manager of Minor League Operations. The team added Michael Winger as Assistant General Manager/Legal and Administration and David Vanterpool as Pro Scout.

"We are pleased to continue to promote from within our organization while also bringing in new people who will enhance and compliment our current staff," said Presti. "The promotions for Troy, Rob, Paul and Brandon are well deserved. They are selfless workers who are extremely committed to our organization." Presti added, "We are fortunate to have the opportunity to also add people such as Michael and David to our team; both will enhance our organization and help us grow in a positive direction."

Kevin Durant has emerged as the clear leader of Team USA at this month's World Championships in Turkey.

"I'm just being aggressive within the offense," he said. "I may take some bad shots, but my teammates, they don't mind."

Durant has attempted shots early and shined as a facilitator against Slovenia.

The Thunder announced Thursday that they have begun negotiating naming rights for the Ford Center with potential new partners.

The original naming rights agreement came in 2001, when the Oklahoma Ford Dealers agreed to pay $8.1 million over 15 years.

That contract allowed an NBA franchise to terminate the existing naming rights agreement if a team came to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder had discussions with the Oklahoma Ford Dealers, but a new agreement could not be reached.

Nenad Krstic has spoken with general manager Sam Presti in the wake of his role in an on-court brawl in Athens, Greece earlier this week.

Krstic lost control of his emotions when tempers flared between his Serbian team and the Greeks.

He punched Greece's Sofoklis Schortsanitis several times in the back of the head and then retreated only to grab a chair and throw it at Schortsanitis.

Presti said Krstic "recognizes this is an unfortunate situation. He's regretful."

Krstic, who was detained for awhile by Athens police, has apologized to the Greek National Team and individual players.

Kevin Durant quickly signed his contract extension this summer, at least in part because of the strong feelings he has towards his team.

"I just like Oklahoma," Durant said this week. "I didn?t want to leave my teammates. It didn?t need to take a lot of time. It was an easy decision for me."

"In most professions, the people who become amazingly special do things in a very unique way," said Mike Krzyzewski. "He wants to learn. He?s half an hour early for our morning meetings. He?s early for practices. That coupled with the talent he has, it?s a unique combination."

Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed rookie Cole Aldrich.

Aldrich averaged 11.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game during his junior campaign at the University of Kansas. The 6-11 center was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and First?Team All-Big 12 for the second consecutive season along with AP Third Team All-American as a junior.

Former Thunder guard Kyle Weaver has agreed to terms with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Weaver was waived by Oklahoma City on Friday.

He was originally drafted by the Bobcats in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft.